The South Dakota Department of Revenue issued updated guidance regarding the application of sales tax to sales of Internet access and internet-related services. In particular, the Department added “Internet e-mail services” and “web hosting” to the list of exempt Internet-related services. However, the Department removed “live chat or conferencing fees” from the list. The Department
sales tax
Can you tax me now? Alabama finds that prepaid wireless service was subject to sales tax
Alabama considers the sale of prepaid telephone calling cards and the sale of prepaid authorization numbers not evidenced by a physical card, to be the sale of tangible personal property subject to sales tax. Specifically, Alabama statute considers the “sale of prepaid wireless service that is not evidenced by a physical card” to constitute the…
Indiana Department of Revenue rules that sales of digital coursework to universities are exempt from sales tax
On October 2, 2020, the Indiana Department of Revenue issued Revenue Ruling #2019-09ST concerning the sale of digital course materials to Indiana colleges and universities, which were made available to students on the schools’ online learning management systems. The Department determined that these sales were exempt from sales tax because: (i) the course materials were…
Washington ALJ Rules Video Game Developer’s Attendance at Trade Show Created Substantial Nexus
On December 4, 2020, the Washington Department of Revenue Appeals Division determined that an out-of-state company’s participation in an annual three-day trade show in Washington state was sufficient to create substantial nexus with the state and subject the company to both business and occupation tax (B&O tax) and retail sales tax. The taxpayer, an out-of-state…
Florida Senate introduces economic nexus and marketplace facilitator bill
On December 18, SB 50 was filed in the Florida Senate which would require sales tax collection from a person whose remote sales to Florida exceed $100,000 per year. It states that a person whose “taxable remote sales in the previous calendar year” exceed $100,000 has a “substantial number of remote sales” and is therefore…
Ohio Board of Tax Appeals concludes banking software subject to sales tax
The Ohio Board of Tax Appeals found that banking software was subject to sales tax in Cincinnati Federal Savings & Loan v. McClain, Case No. 2018-2247 (December 22, 2020). The banks purchased software for their online banking system. After initially paying tax on the purchases, the banks filed refund claims, claiming that the software…
New York Explains that Digital Marketing Service is Non-Taxable Advertising Service
The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance issued an advisory opinion explaining that a taxpayer’s charges for digital marketing services are not subject to sales tax. The taxpayer provides digital marketing services to its customers which allow the customers the ability to track the effectiveness of their marketing strategies. The services provided by…
New York Department of Taxation & Finance Rules On Taxation of On-Line Clothing Subscription Services
On June 30, 2020, the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance issued an advisory opinion stating that a clothing rental company’s monthly subscription fees are exempt from state sales tax. The taxpayer operated a clothing rental business, offering monthly subscriptions with fees ranging from $35 – $159 per month based on the number…
Marketplace Collection Laws Present Unique Challenges for the Restaurant Industry
The pandemic has changed the physical and economic environment in which restaurants operate. Although food delivery has long been popular for certain types of food, pandemic restrictions and consumer preferences hastened the expansion of food delivery for almost all food and meals. Food delivery can be done either through the restaurant itself or through unrelated…
Sensing a Trend? Maine Tax Assessor Argues Sales Tax “Sale Price” of iPhones More Than What They Sold For
After losing at trial, the Maine State Tax Assessor is now arguing to the state’s Supreme Judicial Court that sales tax applies to carrier subsidies received by Apple on its sales of iPhones bundled with service contracts. During the years in issue, Apple sold iPhones to its customers at a reduced price when the customers…



